Extended Producer Responsibility

57 Pages·3.097 MB·English

by  Stansbury, Susan

packaging > e-book
Extended Producer
Responsibility
this e-book provides an overview of EPR to provide clarity and
a useful summary of its current status. there is also a focus on
the segments, activities, impact, design and material trends that
comprise key areas of the EPR movement.
www.PiRa-intERnational.com
Extended Producer Responsibility
Pira Business Intelligence
Susan Stansbury
The worldwide authority on the packaging, paper and print industry
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table of contents
Executive Summary 3 4
1
Impact of EPR Package Design and Material Trends
Introduction and Methodology Regulatory Examples and Situations consumer and Household Goods
introduction Role of the Supply chain on initiatives Pharmaceuticals and Health care
Scope 4impact: Gaining worth from Packaging Food and Beverage
methodology 4impact: Recycling Solutions 4Packaging Segments
terminology and Definitions 4Plastics 4Product identification
2 4PEt Bottle Recycling 5
4clamshell Product comparisons
4Pouches
4case Study: wine in Pouches
Overview of EPR Initiatives 4Papers Outlook for EPR Packaging
Background 4Pre-consumer materials/waste 4Source of Energy and Raw material
Establishing Fundamentals for Better EPR Strategies 4Post-consumer materials/waste 4Regulations
metrics 4Post-consumer Recycling 4technologies
4measurement comparisons 4Recycling categories 4Education & communication
the consumer Perspective on initiatives 4Biodegradability and composting 4innovation
Examining a Global View 4initiatives and issues with alternative/Replacement 4international cooperation
materials
4Biomaterials List of Tables and Figures
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packaging > e-book > extended producer responsibility
Executive Summary
the many Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) initiatives rapidly generally make poor choices.
being introduced across many regions are at once promising Because of the
and impactful, and confusing and complex. Because EPR places the complexity of developing an EPR strategy was well summarized chain of events
responsibility for end-of-life management of products and related in 2011 by Dr. carol casarino, of DuPont Packaging and industrial
that must occur
packaging on product manufacturers, there are many groups along Polymers, when she said, ‘addressing sustainability, including
to see responsible,
the supply chain involved. water and carbon footprints, requires new design thinking, new
progressive results,
technology, new processes, harmonization, and flexible solutions.’
a brief explanation of EPR: DuPont sees wide-ranging packaging communication needs the success of EPR
EPR places responsibility for end-of-life management of as well as concerns with competing trade groups, the myth of strategies relies
products and related packaging on producers, and to some over-packaging, metrics issues, end-of-life confusion and lack of on impeccable
extent consumers. While regulation and standardization collection systems.
management and
from governments and other authorities affects EPR,
cooperation among
management emphasis is on producers. Another way of Even for those with the best intentions, there are many issues that
those involved in
looking at EPR is called Product Stewardship. are unresolved. the basics include:
the processes.
• Understanding the key elements related to EPR
Because of the chain of events that must occur to see responsible, • Using the best design principles for product
progressive results, the success of EPR strategies relies on development
impeccable management and cooperation among those involved • Understanding materials, dis-assembly of components
in the processes. From product designers who know how to choose and product-to-package ratio
the best raw materials that will generate minimal end-of-life waste, • Carrying out Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
to marketers that strive to offer competitive and cost-effective • Measuring for perspective and results
products, on through the shipper, consumer-user, and finally, at the • Being aware of consumer views and communications
disposal/waste/recycle stage, EPR demands many wise, informed issues
decisions and responsible actions. • Making global and regional comparisons of products,
standards & regulations
within and around the aforementioned stages of the supply chain,
there are ways to analyze product lifecycles, types and amounts of the impact of EPR efforts takes legislative progress into account,
waste, reduce cost, improve incentives, regulate and standardize--as with variations by region. For example, both multinational
well as ‘opportunities’ to confuse, make misleading claims, and to companies and country-specific approaches show the complexity
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packaging > e-book > extended producer responsibility
Executive Summary
and value of changing recycling rates. Goals and trends in quite evident. Some of the variation is understandable where new
handling waste, improving recycling rates, introducing new studies, lifecycle analysis and solutions are rapidly occurring.
bio-materials and ‘closing the loop’ show that the EPR scene is
rapidly dealing with even more variables. it’s apparent that there market areas under rapid change as regards EPR activity involve:
are many entities that need to work together, share and agree on • Consumer and household goods
some general directions within categories, from materials choices, • Personal care
to product segment innovations. • Pharmaceuticals and health care
• Food and beverage
in addition to the impact of EPR commitments, there are various
definitions and confusion around claims of biodegradability and other these segments with EPR impact include aspects of packaging:
terms; the best ways to work with and dispose of current materials; • Glass and plastic bottles
and the choices of new materials. For example, should bio-based • Other plastic packaging
material alternatives be derived from food crops, wood cellulose or • Thermoformed, blister packs, pouches
materials that are transported long distances for production? • Flexible packaging
• Paper-based packages
issues of key importance across market segments and packaging • Emerging package trends
categories show that everyone from product designers and
manufacturers to consumers can critically affect end-of-life disposal there is an urgent need to address the amounts and methods of
outcomes. at the design end there are many choices to be made— waste generated, as incremental and transformational innovation,
from materials, amount of packaging, ability to be recycled or information-sharing and standardization will likely propel EPR forward
repurposed to a general determination to build in sustainability rapidly in the next few years. there has been significant effort in 2011
solutions. at the consumer end, there must be the commitment to by EPR-committed companies to actively encourage recycling—for
make wise choices, especially when those choices are responsibly instance, coca-cola’s Recycling Education Vehicles that tour around
defined on packages, within communities and communicated the US; or the scientists at Battelle who replaced the super-absorbent
through regulatory mandates. a number of examples in several polymers in diapers derived from petroleum products.
categories demonstrate commitments to EPR initiatives. Designers,
brand owners, associations, communities and regulatory authorities improvements in approaching EPR analysis, measurement
all have their role—and research shows a need for greater and consensus are helping involved constituencies make solid
standardization as wide variations across regions and countries are design decisions to help reduce and repurpose waste. life cycle
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packaging > e-book > extended producer responsibility
Executive Summary
assessment, carbon impact determination, standard definitions
and shared information are allowing for more meaningful and
rapid progress.
in its next phase, EPR will move more solidly from case-by-case
examples and pockets of information to larger summaries of data
and results by market segment, product category and type of
waste stream.
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packaging > e-book > extended producer responsibility
Introduction and Methodology
1 Introduction certainly, but also increased emphasis on areas where producers’
according to USA Today, July 7, 2011, there are ‘243 million tons responsibility has the greatest impact and potential for ever- an example of EPR
of waste per year,’ of which americans ‘only recycle about a third. increasing end-of-life responsibility. is the decades-old
Hampering that effort is a gaggle of differing state and municipal
‘bottle bills’ that
recycling regulations and systems….’ this adds to evidence that the scope of this report is derived from the following short
require beverage
producers-designers-marketers’ responsibilities are a major aspect explanation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
companies to
with significant potential to inform, play a key role and make an EPR places responsibility for end-of-life management of
impact on these numbers. products and related packaging on producers, and to some take back empty
extent consumers. While regulation and standardization containers and
an example of EPR is the decades-old ‘bottle bills’ that require from governments and other authorities affects EPR, recycle them.
beverage companies to take back empty containers and recycle management emphasis is on producers. Another way of
them. these include container deposit return programs that have, in looking at EPR is called Product Stewardship. (See more
fact, encouraged higher rates of return in the US and canada. more detail under Definitions.)
recently, certain laws in the US, canada and European countries
require producers to take back hazardous leftovers and set up issues, approaches and Strategic Directions in this report:
programs to recycle items including paint, pesticides, motor oil, • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); Metrics and EPR Impact
computers, televisions and other electronic equipment. • Material Feedstock, Carbon Footprint and Options for
Sustainability
contents of this e-book include an overview of EPR to provide • Global Supply Chain, Issues and Comparisons
clarity and a useful summary of its current status. there is also • Municipal Solid Waste Issues (MSW)
a focus on the segments, activities, impact, design and material • Standards & Regulatory Cooperation and Partnering
trends that comprise key areas of the EPR movement. Finally, the • Implementing Waste and Recycling Strategies in EPR
outlook for EPR-driven packaging offers important aspects to • Reduction, Reuse and Alternatives to Landfill
monitor and ideas to explore. • Producer Examples and Impact
• Trends and Avenues for the Future
Scope
this report encompasses packaging segments and the Methodology
various approaches to extended producer responsibility. on this e-book is based on data and information gathered in mid-2011
the packaging segment side, there are general perspectives, from both primary and secondary sources. in the investigation for
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Introduction and Methodology
this report, the author drew upon direct associations with industry, lifecycle—manufacturers, retailers, users, and disposers—to share
packaging and product development clients and others, as well as responsibility for reducing the environmental impacts of products.
reputable resources known to the author and Pira and a variety of according to the US Environmental Protection agency (EPa),
business reports and published materials. in addition, the author ‘Product Stewardship recognizes that product manufacturers must
drew upon Pira’s extensive resources, such as packaging-related take on new responsibilities to reduce the environmental footprint
reports and conferences. of their products.’ However, real change cannot always be achieved
by producers acting alone: retailers, consumers, and the existing
Terminology and Definitions waste-management infrastructure need to help to provide the most
workable and cost-effective solutions. Solutions and roles will vary
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) means that recycling, from one product system to another. this e-book examines some of
disposal and end-of-life responsibility for products and packaging those product systems.
lies with those who design, market and profit from them—the
producers. according to Environmental Packaging international: Packaging can be made more sustainable by applying the
• P roducers take responsibility for their packaging at the principles of product stewardship. this means:
postconsumer stage. • Eliminating toxic constituents
• E PR shifts responsibility for recycling and waste • Using less material
disposal from local government to private industry, e.g., • making packaging more reusable
‘producers’. • Using more recycled content
• the idea behind EPR programs usually is to increase • making it more readily recyclable
recycling; programs often contain mandated recycling
targets. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is used to measure and interpret
• E PR also impacts how companies design and choose the environmental flows to and from the environment (including
materials for their products. if producers are responsible air emissions, water effluents, solid waste, and the consumption/
for postconsumer waste created by their products, it depletion of energy and other resources), over the lifecycle of a
creates an incentive for them to make products that are product or process. (Source: www.imoa.info)
less wasteful.
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), more commonly known as trash
Product Stewardship is a product-centered approach to or garbage, consists of discarded product packaging, furniture,
environmental protection. it calls on those in the product clothing, bottles, food scraps, newspapers, appliances, paint, and
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Introduction and Methodology
batteries. this comes from homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses. Clean Fuels: Blends or substitutes for gasoline fuels, including
compressed natural gas, methanol, ethanol, and liquefied
Sustainability deals with nature, the economy, society or all petroleum gas.
three together. most are not about maintaining life precisely as
it is today. they are about the rate of change, and about equity Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): Document that codifies
between generations. many see sustainability as a continually all rules of the executive departments and agencies of the federal
evolving process. government. it is divided into fifty volumes, known as titles. title
40 of the cFR (referenced as 40 cFR) lists all environmental
Affected Landfill: Under the clean air act, landfills that meet regulations.
criteria for capacity, age, and emissions rates set by the EPa. they
are required to collect and combust their gas emissions. Commercial Waste: all solid waste emanating from business
establishments such as stores, markets, office buildings, restaurants,
BACT - Best Available Control Technology: an emission shopping centers, and theaters.
limitation based on the maximum degree of emission reduction
(considering energy, environmental, and economic impacts) Commercial Waste Management Facility: a treatment,
achievable through application of production processes and storage, disposal, or transfer facility that accepts waste from a
available methods, systems, and techniques. Bact does not permit variety of sources, as compared to a private facility that normally
emissions in excess of those allowed under any applicable clean manages a limited waste stream generated by its own operations.
air act provisions. Use of the Bact concept is allowable on a
case-by-case basis for major new or modified emissions sources in Commingled Recyclables: mixed recyclables that are collected
attainment areas and applies to each regulated pollutant. together.
Bioavailability: Degree of ability to be absorbed and ready to Compliance Monitoring: collection and evaluation of data,
interact in organism metabolism. including self-monitoring reports, and verification to show whether
pollutant concentrations and loads contained in permitted
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): a measure of the discharges are in compliance with the limits and conditions
amount of oxygen consumed in the biological processes that break specified in the permit.
down organic matter in water. the greater the BoD, the greater the
degree of pollution. Contaminant: any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological
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Introduction and Methodology
substance or matter that has an adverse effect on air, water, or soil. Ethanol: an alternative automotive fuel derived from grain and
corn; usually blended with gasoline to form gasohol.
Contamination: introduction into water, air, and soil of
microorganisms, chemicals, toxic substances, wastes, or wastewater Global Warming: an increase in the near surface temperature of
in a concentration that makes the medium unfit for its next the Earth. Global warming has occurred in the distant past as the
intended use. also applies to surfaces of objects, buildings, and result of natural influences, but the term is most often used to refer
various household and agricultural-use products. to the warming predicted to occur as a result of increased emissions
of greenhouse gases.
Decomposition: the breakdown of matter by bacteria and
fungi, changing the chemical makeup and physical appearance of Hazardous Waste: By-products of society that can pose
materials. a substantial or potential hazard to human health or the
environment when improperly managed. Possesses at least one of
Disposables: consumer products, other items, and packaging four characteristics (ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity), or
used once or a few times and discarded. appears on special EPa lists.
Emissions Trading: the creation of surplus emission reductions Industrial Source Reduction: Practices that reduce the amount
at certain stacks, vents or similar emissions sources and the use of of any hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant entering
this surplus to meet or redefine pollution requirements applicable any waste stream or otherwise released into the environment. also
to other emissions sources. this allows one source to increase reduces the threat to public health and the environment associated
emissions when another source reduces them, maintaining an with such releases. term includes equipment or technology
overall constant emission level. Facilities that reduce emissions modifications, substitution of raw materials, and improvements in
substantially may bank their credits or sell them to other facilities housekeeping, maintenance, training or inventory control.
or industries.
Industrial Waste: Unwanted materials from an industrial
Environment: the sum of all external conditions affecting the life, operation; may be liquid, sludge, solid, or hazardous waste.
development, and survival of an organism.
Landfills: 1. Sanitary landfills are disposal sites for nonhazardous
Environmental Sustainability: long-term maintenance of solid wastes spread in layers, compacted to the smallest practical
ecosystem components and functions for future generations. volume, and covered by material applied at the end of each
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